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Amritsar, June 7, 2025 — The streets of Punjab have echoed with the determined voices of MBBS interns for over a month, as they protest against soaring medical education fees and stagnant internship stipends. Despite multiple peaceful rallies and mounting support, authorities have yet to respond to their demands.
Rising Fees, Stagnant Stipends
The interns’ grievances center on two key issues: a dramatic increase in MBBS fees and the lack of any raise in their monthly stipends. According to protest leaders, the annual MBBS fee has surged by 77%—from Rs 4.4 lakhs in 2019 to Rs 11.8 lakhs in 2025. Meanwhile, the internship stipend remains unchanged at Rs 15,000 per month, which amounts to just Rs 500 a day, unchanged for five years.
Persistent Protests, No Official Response
The protest began with a peaceful road rally on May 26 and was followed by a larger demonstration on June 3, drawing interns from Government Medical College (GMC) Amritsar and Faridkot. Despite these efforts, there has been no engagement from government officials.
“No contact with the government till now. No one contacted us from the government side,” said Dr. Charanpreet Singh, Chairman of the Medical Student Association (MSA) Amritsar.
Growing Support
The movement has garnered support from across the medical community. Dr. Ankit Gulia, National Executive FAIMA from DMC Ludhiana, joined the protest at GMC Patiala, expressing solidarity on behalf of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) with Punjab’s resident doctors and interns.
A Call for Justice
The protest at GMC Amritsar has continued unabated since May 26. Despite repeated rallies, appeals, and a robust social media campaign, the interns say there has been no meaningful engagement from the authorities. Their demands are clear: fair compensation for their work, a rollback of the recent fee hike, and a commitment to accessible medical education.
As days pass and the silence from officials continues, the interns’ movement is gaining momentum. Their peaceful yet persistent protest has become a rallying cry for justice and respect for future doctors in Punjab.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information reported by Edex Live on June 6, 2025. The details presented reflect the situation as described by protest organizers and participants. Official responses from government authorities were not available at the time of writing. Readers are advised to consult multiple sources for the latest updates.
